About the Program
Government, Planning, and Philosophy Department
Cassety Hall 202
(716) 878-6116
https://gpp.buffalostate.edu
The legal studies minor is designed to prepare students for successful admission to law school by exposing students to a variety of subject matters and providing a balance in students’ educational experiences. Selecting courses from among those offered through the legal studies minor will help students develop oral and written communication proficiency, as well as acquire knowledge of legal history, theory, and philosophy. The optional Mock Trial course requires students to use analytical and problem-solving skills to construct factually sound and logically consistent oral arguments.
Admission Requirements
Any matriculated student in good academic standing may declare this program.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
1. Appraise the existing literature in a given topic area of U.S. Public Law and how the major historical schools of thought explain that topic
2. Defend valid conclusions concerning points of U.S. law based on analysis of literature and employment of appropriate legal oral and written skills
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the civic dispositions and skills conducive to democratic involvement and global awareness
Program Requirements
Required Courses (9 credit hours)
PSC 250 INTRODUCTION TO LAW 3
PHI 103 INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC 3
or PHI 107 INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
PSC 485 MOCK TRIAL 3
or PSC 420 CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES or PSC 421 DISCRIMINATION AND THE CONSTITUTION
Electives (9 credit hours)
Selected from at least two different departments: 9
BUS 334 BUSINESS LAW I
BUS 335 BUSINESS LAW II
COM 400 COMMUNICATION LAW
CRJ 303 CRIMINAL JUSTICE THEORY AND IDEOLOGY
CRJ 307 COMPARATIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
CRJ 317 CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CRJ 320 CRIMINAL COURTS
CRJ 425 RACE, ETHNICITY, AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
CRJ 430 GENDER AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
ECO 360 INTRODUCTION TO THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF LAW
HIS 341 AFRICAN AMERICANS AND CIVIL RIGHTS
HIS 342 ENGLISH LEGAL HISTORY
HTR 470 LEGAL ISSUES IN HOSPITALITY
PHI 301 JUSTICE: LIBERTY VS. EQUALITY
PHI 304 PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
PSC 308 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
PSC 317 U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
PSC 320 U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES
PSC 321 CIVIL PROCEDURE
PSC 398 LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING
SOC 380 SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME
SOC 383 SOCIOLOGY OF PUNISHMENT AND CORRECTIONS
SPC 321 RHETORICAL CRITICISM
Total Credit Hours 18